Sociology, M.A.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

A growing number of administrative, planning, and statistical agencies at all levels of government, public policy research organizations, and private industries are showing an interest in employing persons whose primary training and expertise is in the use and analysis of population statistics. In addition, an increasing number of students have shown an interest in acquiring specialized training in techniques of demographic analysis at an earlier stage in their graduate education than is common in more traditional graduate programs. Designed in response to these trends, the Graduate Program in Applied Demography prepares graduates for employment in a variety of service, government, or business settings upon the completion of the master’s degree. Students who intend to continue their education through the doctoral degree should also consider the Graduate Program in demography within the Department of Sociology. This program has different requirements for the master’s degree in demography and is generally designed to prepare students for entry into a doctoral level program.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master’s degree, students in the Sociology program are expected to be able to:

Develop a project that investigates a sociological research question.
Evaluate and defend the relevant theories and literature that inform the research question.
Statistically analyze empirical data from large social survey datasets to investigate a research question.
Assess the strengths and limitations of analytical methods and defend choices to use some methods over others.
Argue effectively to technical and non-technical audiences orally and in writing.

Admission Requirements

Deadlines for Fall is January 15 for priority funding consideration. Since application reviews may begin immediately after the deadline, we recommend submitting your application and providing all required documents before the deadline.
You may start this program with or without a Masters. If you do not hold a Masters, you will complete in your program of study.
Documents required:

Submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Three Letters of Recommendation
Professional Resume
Statement of Purpose
Writing Sample

Please refer to your program’s webpage for specific details about the nature and content of the additional documents required.

Application Requirements

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements

Curriculum Requirements

Required Courses (18 credits)

Electives (24 credits)

Areas of Concentration: Select one from A, B, C, or D.

A. Applied Demography.

Required courses:SOC 6100 SOC 5200 SOC 6210 SOC 6090 SOC 6110 SOC 6120 SOC 6270 or SOC 7190
Select 1 course from: SOC 6560 SOC 6580 SOC 7230 SOC 7260 SOC 7270 SOC 7280

B. Criminology/Deviance

Required courses: SOC 6010 SOC 6090 SOC 6100 SOC 6110 SOC 6120 SOC 6460
Select 2 courses from: SOC 6440 SOC 6450 SOC 6480 SOC 6490 SOC 7310 SOC 7410 SOC 7430 SOC 7450

B. Family Studies

Required courses: SOC 6540 SOC 6010 SOC 6090 SOC 6100 SOC 6110 SOC 6120
Select 2 courses from: SOC 5500 SOC 6530 SOC 6560 SOC 6580 SOC 7280 SOC 7310 SOC 7530

C. Population Studies/Demography

Required courses: SOC 5200 SOC 6010 SOC 6090 SOC 6100 SOC 6110 SOC 6120 SOC 6210
Select 1 course from: SOC 6560 SOC 6580 SOC 7230 SOC 7260 SOC 7270 SOC 7280

D. Social Psychology

Required courses: SOC 6010 SOC 6090 SOC 6100 SOC 6110 SOC 6120 SOC 6500
Select 2 courses from: SOC 6530 SOC 7310 SOC 7380 SOC 7500 SOC 7530

Culminating Experience (3-6 credits)

SOC 6990 - Thesis Research

Minimum Total Credits (30 credits)

Additional Requirements

Minimum of 3 credits of 6990 required for Plan I master’s students. Maximum of 6 credits may be applied toward degree requirements.
Minimum 3.0 graduate cumulative grade point average
Minimum of 18 credits must be at the 6000-level or higher
Minimum of 24 credits must be earned at BGSU
All requirements must be completed within six years from the end of the earliest course used to fulfill degree requirements.